“Most rustlers of the open-range era were cowboys who had drifted into dubious practices. They knew the cattle country and were adept at roping, branding, and trailing. One needed only to buy a few cows, register a brand, and begin branding strays. Many cowboys’ herds increased so rapidly that some ranchmen refused to hire any hand who had stock of his own. The altering of brands was a frequent practice among rustlers. Instead of the stamp iron used by most cattlemen, the rustler used a running iron-a straight rod with a curve at the heated end. When this was outlawed, he sometimes used a piece of heavy wire that he could bend into any shape and carry in his pocket.”

LibbyShaw over at TexasKaos checks in on Rep. Louie Gohmert, who in speaking to a Tea Bagger rally “declared that ‘demons'” — yes, demons — “have invaded the capital (and likely the souls of Democrats), forcing lawmakers to mislead the public about the content of the health care bill.” Check out the rest of the fun here: TX U.S. House Rep: “Demons have Invaded the Capital”.